The Launchpad and Launchpad Awards, which successfully took place for the first time in 2019, are returning for a second year to Subcon 2021, the UK’s premier sub-contract manufacturing supply chain show taking place 14-16 September at Birmingham’s NEC.

The awards are dedicated to providing manufacturing start-ups and entrepreneurs with a valuable platform for sharing innovation and earning much-needed recognition and brand awareness among thousands of engineering and manufacturing professionals.

To qualify, businesses must be under three years old with a product or service that relates to engineering and/or manufacturing. Up to eight businesses will be given a free stand in the Launchpad area at the show, offered expert advice and marketing support and automatically entered into the 2021 Launchpad Awards. Applications are open now at the website (www.subconshow.co.uk/launchpad) and close on 1 August 2021.

Launchpad Award participants will be allocated a 5min slot to present their innovation to a panel of expert judges including Subcon event director Gordon Kirk and chair Jon Excell. Taking place during Subcon, the winner will be announced at the show and receive a free stand on the main show floor at Subcon 2022 worth £10,000, plus ongoing PR and marketing support to help increase brand awareness.

Judging panel chair Jon Excell said: “We are very excited about the return of the Launchpad competition. Its debut in 2019 uncovered some truly inspirational and potentially game-changing UK engineering innovators and disruptors spanning a range of sectors, so we are really looking forward to welcome it back and seeing this year’s crop of entries.”

For visitors attending September’s Subcon, the Launchpad is an opportunity to view leading-edge innovation which can drive up productivity and boost competitiveness. Visitor registration is open now at www.subconshow.co.uk and this year’s event is co-located with The Engineer Expo and Manufacturing Management.

Subcon event director Gordon Kirk said: “Young businesses have faced extraordinary challenges as they have sought to bring ingenuity to market over the past year. It is important that Subcon continues to provide a platform that focuses on the next generation of innovators and showcases their contribution to the future of industry and the UK’s global competitiveness.

“Subcon is a strategic opportunity for companies throughout the manufacturing supply chain to meet face-to-face, reconnect and secure business growth and a timely and unique platform for any UK manufacturers looking to source or develop a robust and localised network of UK supply chain partners.”